Posts tagged with "lodging"

Capping this year’s Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award for Bernardus Lodge & Spa and chef Cal Stamenov’s signature dining venue – Lucia Restaurant & Bar- Carmel Valley’s esteemed hideaway for epicures on escape has again raised the hospitality bar with the Forbes 2019 World’s Best Rooms Award, one of 41 hotel properties in 17 countries and just six on the West Coast. Nearly 1700 worldwide hotels were included in the review process.

Achieving perfect scores on guestroom and bathroom standards related to luxury, guest comfort and convenience, this award underscores Bernardus’ mantra on superseding guest expectations with meticulous attention to design, ergonomics, and elegance. “This is an incredible honor, one that speaks to our philosophy and passion as well as recognizing our hardworking staff,” according to Sean Damery, vice president and general manager of Bernardus Lodge & Spa.

Forbes Travel Guide’s Verified Lists provide guests with an objective, data-driven source for making informed choices. These Illustrious properties have been thoroughly tested and verified to ensure that the rooms are of the highest quality – not just beautiful, but impeccably functional, luxuriously comfortable and elegantly appointed. Elements of luxury standards reflect detailed attention to the level of sumptuous comfort, as well as luxurious choices and conveniences provided to guests including linens of exceptional quality and style, high-quality amenities and/or technology appropriate to the destination, exception attention to interior design, notable pieces of artwork, high-quality soft goods and bathroom amenities that are exceptionally luxurious. Comfort and convenience standards encompass guestrooms that are well-sound-proofed, extremely fresh upon arrival, generously spacious grooming areas, advanced lighting, and technology that is easy to navigate.

Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, and spas. The anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on up to 900 objective standards with an emphasis on exceptional service. The only way to receive a Five-Star, Four-Star or Recommended rating is by earning it through Forbes’ independent inspection process. A full list of awards is listed at www.forbestravelguide.com.

Hoteliers and their staff are busy all the time. Anything that can take some weight off their shoulders will help them to work on other important tasks. Property Management System is the solution as it removes repetitive tasks and takes care of time-consuming processes. But the problem is: choosing the right PMS tool to help manage your property. Making a wrong move will result in losing not only money but a great deal of your time too. Here are five tips to help you choose the right property management system for your hotel.

Mind the Costs

Look for what your business needs and then choose a PMS that will meet the requirement. Even though costs will play an essential factor, it’s important to have a system that works with your workflow and meets your needs. Take advantage of the free trial or demo, which in fact is something you should ask first, and see whether it’s suitable for your hotel.

Opt for a cloud-based rather than the premise-based system which is more costly. The cloud-based system will not require you to hire an IT service to manage it. You will only have your computer or mobile to deal with. Remember to find something that favors your pocket.

Security Should be of Concern

To safeguard all the information about your guests’ data and prevent any breaches, security should be your concern. In an era where customer privacy is of utmost importance, and you don’t want to lose them, you should ask for a hotel property management system demo from every provider to see what they have as far as security is concerned.

Security breaches in hotels can involve password theft, network compromise, personal data compromise, etc. All the breaches are dealt with individually. Some need an application firewall to solve the problem while others are more complex and require a closer look.

Form a Plan and a Team

Unless you have a small-home-turned-hotel where you and your spouse are the team, one of the critical things to do is forming an integration team consisting of managers and staff. The importance of doing this is to make sure that the PMS addresses most of the needs in your hotel and it’s evaluated from different viewpoints.

Creating a plan and a team will also allow you to involve the eventual users, who are the staff. For small hotels or lodgings, ma’ and pa’ sit down and discuss the plan because they are the staff. It’s a vital decision to make and not even the activities of the day should make you forget about it. It will make your life easier and allow you to make more money.

Look For a PMS Provider Offering Training

Hospitality is an ever functional industry running 24/7, and you should look for providers who can offer support whenever you need. That should also mean that they are available to troubleshoot any problems you might face. Go for a PMS that provides training for the first-time users and also provides a refresher course in case you need it later on.

Ongoing training and support will help you understand new features and integrations. It’s vital to find a PMS that offers assistance so that you can solve some of the issues you might have.

Find One that Can be Integrated with Other Apps

PMS should be able to perform all the tasks flawlessly with other apps, that means, data from PMS can be transferred to other apps seamlessly so that work can be managed better. Inquire to understand whether the app can communicate and integrate with other systems.

What does this mean? For instance, if you have been storing all your data as Microsoft Excel file then you adopt a new web-based app, the data can be copied accurately and correctly such that no one will have to type it all again i.e. PMS with csv import-export feature.

Spring Break is creeping around the corner and you know what that means–time to start booking a relaxing place to stay while you enjoy your vacation extravaganza! At Royalton Suites Cancún, this 4.5 out of 5 star resorts aim is to meet and go above and beyond your expectations. With their excellent customer service, you will be taken care of with the highest quality of care. The resort is a little over a month old as of today and is within walking distance from beautiful downtown Cancún. Officers are available onsite both by the beach side as well as inside the lobby. The resort offers breathtakingly stunning views, stylish architecture, and exceptional service. Inside your booked room, you can find luxurious detailing as every piece was designed to make your experience magical. Enjoy a refreshing shower with their waterfall shower head capabilities where the showering area can fit about 2-5 people–pretty spacious! Inside each suite is a beautiful architecturally-built room designed to give you the feel of extreme luxury.

For all you food lovers out there, Royalton Suites Cancún offers seven restaurants and six bars to fuel your taste buds! You can enjoy local and international delights in buffet styles or à la carte dining venues and end it off with a cocktail, or two, or maybe even grab a cup of coffee at their café. The available dining areas are: Gourmet Marché, Hunter Steakhouse, Agave, Jade, C/X Culinary Experience, SCORE Sports Bar and Lounge, Grazie Italian Trattoria, Beach Club Grill, and Coffee Lounge.

As for their international drinks, you can enjoy a glass at Martini Mix, Sands Beach Bar, Level 18, Dips Pool Bar, or at their Lobby bar. Want to experience a FULL-out luxury vacation treatment? The resort offers a Diamond Club Member package that includes the following goodies/experience:

• Preferred room locations

• Butler service

• Exclusive bar, pool and beach areas with waiter service

• Exclusive Diamond Club Lounge access

• Daily, continental breakfast service in lounge

• Upgraded room service menu

• Luxury amenities in room

• 10% discount on spa treatments and hair dresser

• Day Spa facials, massages, therapeutic pools–why not go ahead and relax that body and mind of yours?

The wow-factor does not end there. The resort offers Level 18, a rooftop area for the most magical experience yet.

It is a rooftop cabana lounge with a panoramic view of the most sought-after sight lines. This area is for adults only and also has a pool, available modern dining, and a nightclub experience. For all you party-goers, at Level 18 you can find a dance party every Thursday evening with a live DJ and amazing LED lights that flash the night away. All you do is wear your brightest whites and let it all out! For those who are more family-oriented or on family vacations, Royalton Suites has a Clubhouse Kids Club, a Hangout Teens Lounge, and offers overall sports and recreational activities that include dancing your heart away to Zumba, yoga, a gym facility, and more. So why not bring all the family right on over and enjoy this royal treatment all together?

If you are looking for more special package deals, there are some designed for birthdays, friends’ getaways, anniversaries, and even for spicing up your romance with your significant other. The birthday package deal is set at $249 package rate per room. This includes a special door/room décor at your arrival, breakfast in bed, a complimentary dinner and cake, and to top it all off a reserved beach spot with a couple’s massage. For birthdays directed at kids, there is a $99 package rate per room. This includes a special room/door décor at your arrival, a complimentary birthday cake, breakfast-served, a special meet and greet with the resort’s Kids Character and ending it all off with a family photo for the memories. More into a getaway with your friends? There is a package that offers a $299 rate per quad room, a complimentary section of wine, and unlimited hydrotherapy pool access. For anniversaries, there is a $299 rate for two, a couple’s spa treatment, breakfast in bed experience, one romantic dinner for two, and a bottle of premium wine at your convenience.

Special occasion celebrations are also available at the resort for weddings or even group events. Of course, a little help along the way in the means of transportation to get to the resort doesn’t hurt! That is what Nexus Tours is here for. Tour Nexus is your leading destination management company that arranges your tours and transportation for you so you can have a safe and efficient way of traveling to your destination. Oh, the fun part? Tour Nexus can even arranged parasailing and jet skiing for your outdoor/active lovers! Paradise snorkeling is also in the books near the beautiful islands…So, what are you waiting for? Time is ticking and Spring Break is nearly here! Book your stay now with Tour Nexus to Royalton Suites Cancún and start living life NOW.

Thomson Safaris, the leading luxury safari operator in Tanzania, has announced a brand-new itinerary for 2019, which will highlight the best of the country’s wildlife, and explore its rich culture from a culinary perspective, including a visit to the “spice island” of Zanzibar.

Guests will experience remarkable wildlife viewing on a safari through the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, and dive into Tanzania’s rich culture with fun, culinary excursions in Arusha, including a colorful local market visit and an interactive Tanzanian cooking demonstration.

For three days, guests will explore the iconic Serengeti plains, and complement the wildlife viewing with an off-the-beaten path visit to the village of Robanda, where they will learn how to make banana beer. In the afternoon, they will partake in a traditional goat roast with Maasai warriors. The journey continues through the Ngorongoro Crater — one of the only places on Earth where you can see all of the Big Five — and a stay at Gibb’s Farm, the award-winning property owned by Judi Wineland and Rick Thomson, the owners of Thomson Safaris. The itinerary will also include walks through the organic farm where coffee, fruits, nuts and vegetables thrive in the rich, volcanic soil, and over 200 species of bird can be found. Guests will learn about sustainable agriculture through farm-to-table culinary activities in the bakery, gardens and kitchen, and, of course, they will indulge in farm-fresh cuisine.

This itinerary wraps with an adventure to Zanzibar, exploring the spice farms for which the island is known, along with excursions to Stone Town and the bustling Forodhani Gardens night market. Guests will cap off their final night with a sunset dhow cruise, featuring classic Swahili Coast dishes, drinks and a vibrant equatorial sunset.

From cities that may be closer to home to exciting overseas destinations, these are some of the top places to visit in 2019.

Auckland, New Zealand

The vibrant capital city of New Zealand recently became one of just 31 cities that are part of the UNESCO Creative Cities network for music. This trending travel destination is home to many of the nation’s renowned artists and institutions. No matter when you visit you can expect to find fabulous live tunes and there’s likely to be a music festival or special event to enjoy too. Visitors can also look forward to the famous panoramic vistas from the iconic Sky Tower and exploring countless museums like the Auckland Art Gallery, the largest art institution in the country featuring more than 15,000 works of historic, modern and contemporary art.

Chicago, Illinois

The Windy City has been popping up on lists of top travel destinations everywhere in recent years, and for good reason. It’s one of America’s top foodie cities, with high quality dishes served at all price points from deep dish pizza to hot dogs and fine dining at the two Michelin-starred Acadia. Chicago is also home to one of the world’s greatest museums, the Art Institute of Chicago and five pro sports teams: the MLB’s White Sox and Cubs, the NFL’s Bears, the NHL’s Blackhawks and the NBA’s Chicago Bulls making it easy to catch a game just about anytime of the year. There’s so much to do in this midwestern city you might just find yourself browsing through Chicago real estate looking for your next new home.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is a place everyone should visit at least once and 2019 may be one of the best times to check this Argentinian city off your travel bucket list. Airfares are lower than ever thanks to low-cost carriers and emerging airlines, and the dollar is incredible strong against the Argentinian peso too, making that famously tasty Malbec more affordable than ever. Look forward to walking through the delightful pedestrian areas and watching tango dances in the streets as you explore the wealth of wine bars, cafes and steakhouses.

Berlin, Germany

There are two important anniversaries in Berlin that will be marked in 2019, including the 30-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the centenary of the Bauhaus, with its festival held from January 16 to January 24. Stroll through Berlin Mitte, the historical heart of the city. and you’ll be able to check out many of its top sites like the Brandenburg Gate, the iconic symbol of Berlin that symbolizes the reunification of the West and East. If you visit in September, the weather is not only likely to be ideal, but you can attend the Lollapalooza Berlin, hosted on September 8 and 9 in 2019. It’s sure to bring plenty of big-name artists – last year’s lineup included headliners like Imagine Dragons and Liam Gallagher. It also features an open-air art gallery, street theater, wine bars and a festival for kids.

Fredericksburg, Texas the destination of historical sites and culture welcomes us. With the hidden treasures of food, wine and goods the Texas Hill Country is a must-visit.

Beginning with a stay at the one and only Hanger Hotel. This hotel has a WWII hangar of the romantic 1940’s to it’s design with fine woods and custom carpets. Famous for the Observation Deck on the second floor with views adjacent to the airport to see the planes come and go from one end of the runway to the end.

Later a stop to the Pioneer Museum Complex preserved from the 19th century German Pioneer days. In the mid-1840s Germans faced every obstacle to come to Texas and create a unique German colony in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The Museum strives to preserve and tell this story. With a combination museum and historical site, it reaches over 3.5 acres on Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg.

Dinner at Das Peach Haus that houses delicious jams, jellies and sauces made by Fischer and Wieser Speciality Foods. The Historic roadside fruit stand offers gourmet products with unique flavor combinations. The Tasting Room offers tastings from two Texas wineries, which change out every two months. Vintage wines are paired with international assortment of cured meats and cheeses. Fischer and Wieser include more than 70-award-winning products, which each inspire culinary adventures around the world by being able to purchase online.

Clear River Ice Cream and Bakery does things differently with hot-from-the-oven baked goods, homemade ice cream and house deli. Homemade ice cream with high-quality ingredients has been voted as the third best ice cream in Texas. For a bite to eat the deli and salad selection is notable with house favorites like the Chipotle Ranch Chicken Wrap. Fresh baked goods can satisfy any sweet tooth with an Apple Strudel, Peach Cobbler and everything in between.

Tour at the George H.W. Bush Gallery at The National Museum of the Pacific War dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific Theater in World War II. The Museum is noted for its historic materials with iconic elements of the Pacific War era. Guided tours debut the newly renovated Pacific Combat Zone, a realistic environment for a deep understanding of the momentous struggle between Allied Forces and Japanese forces.

For lunch we enjoy an Arts District Stroll through the Peach Tree Gift Gallery and Tea Room. With the Cottage style restaurant, you will find a combination of fresh, homemade breads, soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. For over 39 years this family owned business has been a destination in Fredericksburg, because of the seasonal fruits and vegetables they use.

After lunch, we took an art tour through the streets of Fredericksburg to meet with the area’s top galleries. Insight Gallery represents the cities artists and sculptors that today work on landscape, figurative, impressionistic, still life, wildlife and western art. The Good ART Company is beautiful with a contemporary fusion in a restored 4,000+ square foot historical building with high ceilings and limestone walls. The gallery features an array of genres with some of the best regional, national, and international artists. Koch Gallery owned and operated by Bert E. Koch a trader/broker for traditional, contemporary and modern Native American Art. For over 30 years it continues its long tradition of providing important works of art from all major cultural regions in North America. Artisans Gallery makes your artistic dreams reality with unique pieces that come in every medium, size and price range. RS Hanna a jewel for fine arts with original works of acclaimed artists. Workings range from oil, watercolor, bronze and wood. Gallery 330 is the newest addition to the art scene representing contemporary established artists whose works include sculpture, painting and prints, serigraphs and watercolors.

The Holiday Wine Trail takes us to Texas’s countryside to travel along Wine Road 290 with visit to award winning wineries.

The trail begins at Stout’s Trattoria at Grape Creek Vineyards a 100-acre vineyard estate. With oaks and vines surrounding the tasting rooms there is a romantic Tuscan setting that is truly unforgettable. The Vineyards have won over 100 medals in the last two years for their wines.

In the heart of the Texas Hill Country, 4.0 Cellars offers a relaxing and elegant setting to discover the infamous Texas Wines. In a private tasting room we enjoy a wine and chocolate pairing. With four award-winning chocolate truffles from local chocolatier with four carefully selected dry red wines.

Dinner at August E’s, known for it’s organic produce and superb local suppliers. August E inspired by his Thai roots and years in various culinary pursuits throughout the world has created a Nouveau Texas Cuisine. Utilizing ingredients like: Niman ranch Natural Premium Aged Angus steaks and local farmers fruits and vegetables year round. Menu specials change seasonally based on the creative mood of Chef Leu like duck from Maple Leaf Farms and Sashimi Grade Fish.

A favorite in the Texas Hill, we enjoy dinner at Otto’s German Bistro. Menu changes weekly with the season so each visit is an exciting adventure. Dedicated to local, organic produce ingredients that are always fresh and the highest quality.

We enjoy breakfast at Java Ranch a locally owned coffee stop. The ranch serves the finest hot or iced coffee drinks anywhere including lattes, cappuccinos, Hill Country roasted brewed coffee, Americanos and mochas. To start the day off we dive in a breakfast taco or kolaches, house favorites.

We take a visit to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park for a “Texas style” morning. During his administration, Johnson signed more education bills into law than any other president. In respect to that we see his first school where he signed the landmark Elementary and Secondary Education act of 1965. Other stops include the family cemetery and the LBJ Ranch Show.

In the afternoon we endow in lunch and a beer tasting at Altstadt Brewery Fredericksburg’s newest brewery an authentic Bavarian brewery. Dedicated to creating the purest drinking beers the 120-acre old world destination features a fine dining restaurant, brewery tours and a beautiful venue. Brewery exclusives include traditional brews like Schwarzbier, a traditional German “Black Beer.”

With over 150 specialty shops, shopping is one of the primary reasons visitors come to Fredericksburg. In store we see everything from clothing, upscale home accessories, to unique collectibles and more perfect items for holiday shopping. Blackchalk Home and Laundryoriginally an old laundromat had been transformed into an electric home goods store. The hip store features gifts, kitchen goods, and one of a kind rugs. The infamous Christmas Store open year round specializes in collectibles. For collectors, this store is paradise with Department 56 miniature villages and Christopher Radko blown glass ornaments. The Hill Country Outfitters and The Grasshopper offer products to fit the hill country lifestyle in downtown Fredericksburg. Brands like Ugg and The North Face are housed in the Outfitters. The Narrow Path Tasting Room inside is an intimate space with French cafe feelings in the air.

To continue the Holiday Wine Trail, a stop at Signor Vineyard in the rolling hills of Central Texas. Where the Pedernales River meets Grape Creek, established by a friendship spanning three generations of two Texas families. Their focus is growing premium varietal fruit with soulful wines reflective of the unique terroir.

Our stay is perfect timing for the Fredericksburg’s 61st Annual Holiday Home Tour. A self guided tour showcasing unique local homes decorated in their holiday finest. With more than 22 vendors each year selling personal gifts, homemade foods and holiday items.

For dinner we dine at Navajo Grill, which encompasses an unusual blend of Hill Country craftsman design. Enjoying Southern cuisine composed with old and New Mexican flavors with a touch of Creole & Caribbean influences. Specialties like the Sunday Chicken Fried Steak dinner are served with housemade sauces and dressings.

After dinner drinks at Elk Store Winery & Distillery. Since 1895 the business has carried a family tradition that pays homage to the spirit of realizing the American Dream. In the footsteps of their great grandfather Todd Smajstrla along with Scott Hladky, produced moonshine, gin, rum, and whiskey. Since then, the business serves Incredible wines from all over the world. Along with small batches of handmade liquors by the bottle or cocktails.

Dinner at Rathskeller a full-service breakfast, lunch and dinner spot in downtown Fredericksburg. The menu selection is extremely versatile featuring German dishes and daily specials. On Friday and Saturday nights enjoy live music that house the restaurant.

Nothing better than the taste of handmade tortillas for breakfast at Hilda’s Tortillas. Hilda’s is a small family owned and operated business. Specializing in authentic Mexican fare their breakfast tacos and burritos are a must try. Twice a week 300 or more pounds of tortilla chips are produced within the restaurant.

For some fresh air we bike the quiet country backroads with Jack and Adams Bicycles. At Jack and Adams you can rent out Road, Tri-bike, Cruisers and even kid bicycles and accessories from a variety of brands. The Hill Country scenes with its rolling hills and panoramic views, is considered the cycling capital of Texas.

In addition to the speciality shops we visited above there is a collection of shops specializing in different festive treats. Emma + Ollie bakeshop takes classic treats we grew up loving and elevated them. The shop prides themselves on using only fresh ingredients; no processed foods, no artificial sweeteners, just pure dessert. The founder Rebecca Rather wanted the shop to feel as if customers stepped into an upscaled version of their own grandma’s kitchen. Chocolat store creator, Lecia Duke, was the first to introduce European-Style, liquid centered chocolate in the U.S. The truffle chocolates are of course a house favorite as the delicate shell gives way to the pure liquid flavor casades in your mouth. In addition there is also colette’s, creams, silk fudges, nut clusters, barks, and caramels. Fredericksburg Pecan Company provides fine quality of pecan products grown in the Texas Hill Country. Owners are dedicated to providing excellent quality pecans available for online order at reasonable prices with the best customer service. Pecans are flavored and glossed in everything from pecan brittle to pecan coffee.

Rustlin Rob’s Texas Gourmet Food is not your ordinary gourmet food, not limited to people who cook but to “foodies” of all ages. The store is enjoyable because it caters to anyone who loves to eat. With over 350 gourmet foods we can sample from ranging from peanut butters, mustards, bread mixes, and some 5 Alarm hot sauces.

Fredericksburg Pie Company mission is to serve pie that is as good as, or better than your mothers or grandmothers made. In store pies are made from scratch and selections change daily with up to 20 kinds of pie. While here, we enjoy an option of coffee, milk, and more with our slice of pie and even a book selection. Sugar free pies are also available with a call in a day before.

Lunch at the Farm Haus Bistro in the Fredericksburg Herb Farm, with an American menu with French and Italian influences. Owners Dick and Rosemary Estenson take us on a tour of the B&B Cottages based upon the design of the early historic Fredericksburg “Sunday Houses. These houses are inspired by German settlers who built these small “city houses” to use on the weekends to buy provisions and attend Sunday church. We also visit the Nature Spa area dedicated to a truly unique relaxing experience.

Exploring Main Street is incredible when we can enjoy Eisban, an outdoor ice skating on real ice. Alongside Marketplace and the Christmas Pyramid. Afterwards a trip to Luckenbach, Texas made famous by Waylon Jennings’ and Willie Nelson’s 1976 classic country hit.

For our last destination Dinner and wine pairing at local Cabernet Grill Texas Wine Country Restaurant. Chef/Owner Ross Burtwell’s wish is to create a lasting impression of culinary craft where guest feel at home. Known for his speciality in preparing the freshest seafood, Certified Angus Beef, wild game and ranch fare. The wine selection is also superb with over 75 selections from around the State of Texas. Tripadvisor has ranked the restaurant Top 10 in the nation and we know why.

By: Jennifer SimonsonThe skies over West Texas are the area number four of the seven best spots on Earth for stargazing making it the perfect place for an amateur photographer like myself to attempt to capture the Milky Way on film. I opted to bypass the uber trendy town of Marfa and stay in the more laid back town of Marathon about half-a-hour north of Big Bend National Park. I arrived in Marathon near 5 pm and checked into the whimsical Eve’s Garden Bed and Breakfast.

The brightly colored domes and arches of the bed and breakfast create a feeling described as “Through the Looking Glass.” Fragrant roses, bougainvillea and seasonal flowers fill the open-air atrium between rooms. After unloading my suitcase I set out to explore the town of 400 people. Two hours is more than enough time to wander through the local art galleries, gift shops and 27-acre gardens.

The Gage Hotel is the town’s historic hotel. Built by a ranch owner in 1927, the boutique hotel offers a heated pool, spa and full-service restaurant to revive weary travelers. The mission-style adobe building decked out in cow skulls, suede blankets and leather hides will not let you forget you are in Texas.

The cloud build up from storms blowing through ensured I would not be taking photos that evening. Instead I headed to the Gage’s White Buffalo Bar to relax with an El Carranza, the house margarita, before moving in to the 12-Gage Restaurant for dinner. I originally eyed the Blackened Scallops over a Black Eyed Pea Fritter, but thought given the cow-hide covered leather chairs and cowboy decor the Beef Tenderloin Filet with green chili scalloped potatoes would be a more appropriate entree choice.

I woke up early the next day to head into the park. More than 800,000 acres spread out over the high desert terrain of the Chisos Mountains. The park is simply too big to explore in a day. A park ranger told me to start at the Santa Elena Canyon.

The canyon straddles the United States and Mexico border. With 1500-foot canyon walls, it is considered one of the the most dramatically beautiful areas in the park. Many visitors canoe the 20-mile portion of the Rio Grande River that runs through the canyon. While others, like myself, hike down to the river then walk along the canyon walls while occasionally taking a dip in the water.

That night I drove to the nearby ghost town of Terlingua to set up for photos. The evening was cloudy, so after checking Facebook (thank goodness for the Chevy’s Wi-Fi capabilities) I took a nap in the back of the truck. I awoke just before 5 a.m., as the Milky Way began to rise over the horizon. The clouds had dissipated leaving behind a blanket of stars filling the night’s sky. I spent the 90 minutes adjusting my shutter speed, moving the tripod to capture the best angle trying to take as many shots as I could before the sun rose. But for a few minutes I put aside my camera aside, stared into space and thought about how at one point in time people used the stars to guide their travels, navigate their ships, plant their crops and find their place in the world. I tried to take it all in before the stars retreated in sun’s first light. Then I packed up the 2018 Suburban for the long and dusty drive back to Austin.

The City of New York had a Bermuda Style Session which left a lasting impression. The essence of Bermuda was captured throughout the interior and decor of the locale. Floral pattern seating coupled with pops of pineapples alongside of tropical wallpaper, featuring their iconic fruit.

The ambiance was set with a skillful mix of throwbacks, Soca and Bermudian classics. And, DJ Damon DeGraff really worked the turntables! The music persuaded attendees to two-step, yet tranquil enough to hold a conversation. The guests consisted of the following: Bermuda Tourism Authority; Bermudian, Creative Artist and Sip & Stroke instructor Alshante Foggo; natives displaying their brands and the honorable Bermuda Minister of Tourism and Economic Development, Mr. Jahmal Simmons.

This event threw a great reflection on their culture. The 24-mile long island has an immense sense of fashion, music and adventure for tourist engagement.

Guests are invited to shimmer and beat the summer heat with Spa at JW Chicago’s lavish new spa treatment featuring mineral-rich gold mud from the Dead Sea

Today, Spa at JW Chicago, located inside JW Marriott Chicago (151 W. Adams St.), unveils its new 24K Gold spa treatments inviting guests and locals alike to shimmer and shine this summer. The spa treatments bring an air of extravagance to the spa’s exclusive Hammam featuring an ultimate detoxification experience including the generous application and envelopment of mineral-rich gold mud derived from the healing waters of the Dead Sea.

Available now and through September, guests can beat the summer heat and treat themselves or that special someone with one of three lush gold treatments, or combine all three for a totally lavish experience. The 24 karat gold treatments not only allow for full relaxation, but also offer several benefits to the skin.

The use of gold in facial and body treatments has been known to stimulate the skin cells resulting in an increase of the skin’s firmness and elasticity, while improving circulation. Greater blood circulation prevents premature aging and wrinkles, especially for the summer time sun-worshiper. Above all, the 24K Gold treatments’ greatest benefit is its ability to slow down the depletion of collagen.

“The new 24K Gold series is the first of its kind at Spa at JW Chicago,” says Marie Parodi, Director of Spa & Fitness. “These luxe gold treatments provide a complete detoxification, while also offering an exclusive and extravagant experience where spa-goers are truly treated like royalty.”

Enjoy the age defying benefits of the 24 karat gold in an 80-minute Gold Collagen Facial ($205), an 80-minute Gold Body Envelopment with Scalp Massage ($225), or an 80-minute Gold Signature Luxe Massage ($205). Or, enjoy all three at once with the 24K Gold Package (2.5 hours, $375), or the 24K Gold Luxe Package (4 hours, $775).

To make a reservation or to learn more about the spa offerings and memberships call (312) 660-8250 or click here.